Sport
21 May, 2026
HOCKEY: Solid silver performance at JCC
The team made it though to the grand final with a win over East Gippsland in the preliminary final but fell to powerhouse association Ballarat 3-0 in the decider.
NORTH Central’s Under 18 boys’ representative hockey team has come away from last weekend’s Junior Country Championships (JCC) with a silver medal.
The team made it though to the grand final with a win over East Gippsland in the preliminary final but fell to powerhouse association Ballarat 3-0 in the decider.
The girls’ Under 18 team also performed brilliantly, winning a bronze medal after triumphing over Ballarat in the playoff for third place.
And the Under 14 girls also came home with a bronze medal after scoring the only goal of the playoff against Geelong with just seconds remaining.
With North Central one of the smallest associations in the state, such performances were outstanding, facing relative behemoths such as Geelong and Ballarat.
The seven teams sent to Melbourne for the championships - U18 boys and girls, U16 boys and girls, two U14 boys’ and one U14 girls’ side - only got together for one training session before the titles. All North Central teams were represented among the 95 players, which included some from Sunraysia, Echuca, Bendigo and Horsham.
North Central association president Brenton Henderson said the training day at Charlton was the only chance for players to meet coaches and teammates.
Larger associations had numerous practice sessions to help to tune up for the event.
Henderson said the performances across the board were a credit to the players and coaches.
“Other teams not only play on synthetic turf - compared to our grass - many of these have multiple training sessions and play regularly together,” he said.
One of the two U14 boys’ teams – North Central White – finished fourth, losing the bronze medal playoff to Geelong.
North Central Red finished 10th.
U16 girls finished fifth in their division, winning their fifth place playoff against East Gippsland.
The U16 boys’ team finished eighth after losing the seventh place playoff against East Gippsland.
Henderson said, “I think it was a successful weekend – seven teams, and to have one of them in a grand final was a wonderful achievement.
“And it’s also a great way to get more social cohesion between our eight clubs.
“It’s a good way for the kids to get to know one another, rather than being against each other.”
Henderson said with the entire squad and 27 support staff staying together in one venue, strong friendships were made.
“It helps the future of our association.
“For our league, success isn’t measured only by the results; it provides our players with an opportunity to play at high quality facilities, against different teams and provides a social connection with other members within our league.”
Matches were played at three venues in Melbourne - Essendon, Greensborough and Parkville.
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